The
Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that education is the
most powerful weapon which can transform the world. He was addressing the
gathering after inaugurating the Andhra Pradesh Campus of Vellore Institute of
Technology, in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh today. The Chief Minister of Andhra
Pradesh, Shri N. Chandarababu Naidu, the Mininster for Health and Medical
Education, Dr. Kamineni Srinivas and other dignitaries were present on the
occasion.
The
Vice President said that educational institutions are the temples of learning
and every student, who steps into them, must not only show respect to the
Gurus, but also display complete dedication and discipline towards the entire
process of learning. He further said that as per our ancient Guru-Shishya
parampara, the teacher is the most venerated person by the disciple. Although
modern day students get all the information they require at the click of a
mouse by going to Google, it should be noted that Google can never replace a
Guru, he added.
The
Vice President said that he firmly believed that Education is for Emancipation,
Enlightenment, Empowerment, Employment and Empathy. He further said that education
should become a powerful tool of social, cultural and economical transformation
of the country with strong moral and ethical values forming the basis of such a
transformation. Technology is changing so rapidly that students not only need
to anticipate the future requirements but must be able to develop the
technologies of tomorrow, he added.
The
Vice President said that India is also now in an advantageous position with 65
per cent of the population below 35 years. Higher Educational institutions and
universities have a crucial role to play in unleashing their energies and
realizing the demographic dividend, he added.
The
Vice President stressed on the Four Pillars of Learning as enunciated in 1996
UNESCO Commission on Education:
1. Learning to Know
(KNOWLEDGE)
2. Learning to do
(SKILLS)
3. Learning to be
(PERSONALITY)
4. Learning to live
together (Understanding, appreciation of interdependence)
In
a lighter note, the Vice President said that he was told that VIT stands for
Vellore Institute of Technology but he wished that this AP Campus of VIT will
stand for:
• VISION
• INNOVATION
• TRANSFORMATION of
the students entering this institute.
Following
is the text of Vice President's address:
"
I am extremely delighted to inaugurate the new campus of Vellore Institute of
Technology (VIT) in Andhra Pradesh’s new capital, Amaravati, which is envisaged
to be developed into an educational hub by the Andhra Pradesh Government. VIT
is one of the top educational institutes in the country and has carved a niche
for itself in providing quality learning to students.
Merely
having grand and swanky buildings will not make an institution famous. It is
the quality of education, the presence of good faculty, right ambience and
ecosystem for students to unleash their creativity and genius are important.
VIT has an impressive record on this score, I believe.
Educational
institutions are the temples of learning and every student, who steps into
them, must not only show respect to the Gurus, but also display complete
dedication and discipline towards the entire process of learning.
As
per our ancient Guru-Shishya parampara, the teacher is the most venerated
person by the disciple. Although modern day students get all the information
they require at the click of a mouse by going to Google, it should be noted
that Google can never replace a Guru.
I
firmly believe that Education is for
- Emancipation
- Enlightenment
- Empowerment
- Employment
- Empathy
As
the Indian Education Commission of 1964-66, also known as the Kothari
Commission, had stated that the destiny of our country is being shaped in
our classrooms.
No
doubt, the knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired by students form the basis
for nation building.
Education
should become a powerful tool of social, cultural and economical transformation
of the country with strong moral and ethical values forming the basis of such a
transformation. As a result of several initiatives taken by successive
governments with the goal of ensuring ‘Education for All’, the country has
several hundred universities. But numbers are not important, what matters is
the quality.
There
is every need for the institutions of higher learning to raise the standards,
improve methods of pedagogy, enhance research activities and form greater
linkages with the industry so that the students are well equipped to face the
challenges of a globalised world in which digital technologies are playing a
leading role.
Technology
is changing so rapidly that students not only need to anticipate the future
requirements but must be able to develop the technologies of tomorrow.
Basically,
the universities must produce multi-skilled students of tomorrow and for that
to happen, the varsities must convert themselves into centres of excellence.
The Industries must also come forward to fund research activities in
universities.
India
has a rich and glorious tradition of learning which focussed on the development
of the inner self of the student.
The
education system developed by the British was aimed at serving them rather than
benefiting the country. At the time of Independence, India had only around 20
universities and 500 affiliated colleges with a meager enrolment of less than
one lakh students. The education system of those days was narrow and elitist.
- Today, India’s
higher education system is the third largest in the world, next to only
the United States and China.
- As per the latest
reports available, India has around 760 Universities, 38,498 colleges and
12,276 standalone institutions with a total enrolment of around 3.4 crore
students.
- The Government has
taken many initiatives to transform the higher education sector with the
motto of “Education for All and Quality Education”.
- Several new
institutions have been started during the last two and half year,
including 6 new IITs, 7 new IIMs, 8 IIITS and other highly esteemed
institutions across the country.
- A National Ranking
System (National Institutional Ranking Framework - NIRF) has been
developed to promote competitive spirit among the institutes and help the
students make an informed choice.
- I am told that VIT
has topped the ranking consecutively for past two academic years among
private engineering institutions in India as per NIRF Ranking. My
compliments to you.
India
is today among the large economies and the country’s GDP is expected to touch
7.5 per cent in the coming years due to the reforms taken by the government.
India
is also now in an advantageous position with 65 per cent of the population
below 35 years. Higher Educational institutions and universities have a crucial
role to play in unleashing their energies and realizing the demographic
dividend.
Here,
I want to stress on the Four Pillars of Learning as enunciated in 1996 UNESCO
Commission on Education
- Learning to Know
(KNOWLEDGE)
- Learning to do
(SKILLS)
- Learning to be
(PERSONALITY)
- Learning to live
together (Understanding, appreciation of interdependence)
It
is for these institutions and students to ensure that India earns a rightful
place in the technological field and the world economy. It is also important
for every education institution to create an atmosphere which encourages
innovation, new ideas and tap the talent of the young minds.
Similarly,
- Education is the
most powerful weapon which can transform the world.
- “We now live in an
age where change is constant and we are variables.”
- And to keep up
with this change, learning should not be seen as an end but as a means to
achieve greater heights in life.
- You should
continuously update yourself with the latest technologies, innovations and
the changes that are taking place in the world
- You should become
multi-skilled and dare to dream big to achieve your goals.
I
would like to compliment Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu for inviting top
education institutions from India and abroad to Amaravati with a vision to transform the State into an education and knowledge hub
of global standards.
In
a bid to encourage innovations, universities and higher education institutions
have to set up innovation clubs on their campuses.
Dear
students, India is an old land but a young nation. It is your skill, capability
and knowledge that would drive this young nation forward in the march towards
development.
Once
again, I congratulate VIT-AP on this joyous occasion and wish all the best for
your future endeavours.
I
am told that VIT stands for Vellore Institute of Technology but I wish that
this AP Campus of VIT will stand for
- VISION
- INNOVATION
- TRANSFORMATION of
the students entering this institute.
Jai
Hind!"
***
KSD/BK
